Group Yoga Weeks in the Mountains of Costa Rica at AmaTierra

AmaTierra is a retreat and wellness centre on 7.5 wooded acres in the Costa Rican mountains. Group yoga retreats are its core business, and the property has been hosting them for 18 years. The yoga shala is a teak-floored studio with long mountain views and ylang ylang planted nearby; the open sides mean birds and monkeys are part of the room.

Each group brings its own teacher and shapes its own programme. The centre supports retreats aimed at advancing experienced yogis, retreats that teach the basics to beginners, and retreats built around self-help and spiritual practice. Whatever the focus, the daily rhythm includes yoga sessions, walking meditations to the creek on the property, and optional excursions further afield.

Food is a big part of the week. Meals are organic and locally sourced, with some ingredients grown on the property itself. Guests eat together as a group, which is where a lot of the conversation between sessions happens.

The centre also runs professional wellness services alongside the yoga, so guests can book treatments during their stay. Jill Ruttenberg, who co-owns AmaTierra and directs the wellness centre, is a nutritionist, a certified practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a clinical herbalist registered with the American Herbalist Guild, a massage therapist and a Hatha yoga instructor.

What separates this from a beach resort retreat is the preparation and the setting. The owners work with each group leader before arrival — packing advice, arrival logistics, accurate room descriptions — so guests know what they are walking into. And the property itself is secluded mountain forest, not a hotel strip.

What's included

- Accommodation on the property for the length of the group retreat - Yoga sessions in the on-site shala with your group's teacher - Organic, locally sourced meals, some produce grown on the property - Walking meditations to the creek on the property - Organised group excursions - Pre-arrival guidance from the owners on packing and arrival

What's not included

- Flights to Costa Rica - Airport transfers (not stated on the page — confirm with the centre) - Travel insurance - Professional wellness services and treatments - Personal expenses